Dual Technologies under One License
This part of the consultation paper was triggered by a move by Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications, who wanted to strengthen GSM initiatives in the country. But a large section of the remaining industry is strongly moving against this.

AUSPI and ISPAI are in support of Reliance Communications. A licensee using one technology may be assigned additional spectrum meant for another technology under the same license, SP Khanna, secretary general, AUSPI says.

According to MTNL, in response to the TRAI consultation paper, status quo should be maintained. However, fresh allocation of spectrum for deploying alternate technology may be decided based on the availability of spectrum, keeping in view the requirement of spectrum of existing operators as per the WPC guidelines.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have vehemently opposed such moves. In the case of a cross technology merger between GSM/CDMA, the merged entity must be required to choose its technology path and it cannot follow two growth paths under the same license/entity, according to Bharti Airtel. Bharti is supported by COAI.

Vodafone is furious about this initiative. Any attempt to even consider a cross allocation of spectrum would offer parties a backdoor entry to create another network (without obtaining a new license). This would have the potential to destroy the structure of the sector.

There is a separate growth path for each technology, according to Reliance. Operators wishing to deploy the second technology should be allocated spectrum as is allotted to any other operator. The operator using the alternate technology should be given preference due to the existing network availability and better rollout capabilities so that the limited spectrum can be utilized quickly and more efficiently.

According to BSNL, an operator has the choice of technology, and once technologies are selected an operator must continue with it. However, the same operator may be permitted to operate in other LSAs with the change of technology under a new license.

Spectrum Allocation Criteria
After keeping silence for close to a year, service providers are back in action on the spectrum allocation criteria. This time, all operators are dancing to the same tune, growing the market and driving higher traffic.

BSNL voices at least 20+20 MHz spectrum should be reserved for each existing operators. Once the spectrum requirements of existing operators are fully met as per their entitlement on the date of considering initial allocation of spectrum to new licensees and their future spectrum requirements is fully safeguarded to the maximum prescribed limit, as per spectrum availability road map, the government may allocate the spectrum to new operators.

The lonely voice is from ISPAI. The allocation of spectrum should be in terms of first come first served basis. There should be no preference to existing licensees.

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